Improvement in numbering-heads



- ZSneets-SheetL G.,W. DICKINSON. Numbering Heads. No. 140,899. Patentedmywns.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. DICKINSON, OF BELLEVILLE, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND GEORGE ROWDEN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN NUMBERVING-H EADS.

Speciiicationforming part of Letters Patent No. 140,899, dated July 15, 1873; application filed March 12,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. DrcKrN- SON, of Belleville, in the county ofEssex and in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Numbering Heads; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making 'a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure lis an elevation of the side of my device containing the operating-lever. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with one ofthe heads removed, showing the position of parts at the termination of the forward movement of the operating-lever. Fig. 4 is a like view of the same, showing the position of parts when said operating-lever has moved backward about'onehalf its stroke. Fig. 5 is a similar view with the parts in the positions caused by moving said lever to the end of its backward stroke. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line .fr x of Fig. 2, showing the locking and operating pawls removed from engagement with the typedisks, so as to permit the latter to be turned in either direction. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line z z of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a perspective.

yview of the rocket-shaft and its attachment 5 and Figs. 9, l0, and ll are, respectively, like views of the operating-pawls,'lockingpawl, and revolving type-disk.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The design of my invention is to render more accurate and certain the operation of mechanism employed for numbering or registering bank-notes, bonds, dre.; and it consists, principally, in the construction of the lockingpawls, andy their combination with the figuredisks and rocker, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specied. It consists, further, in the construction of the operatingpawls, and their combination with the liguredisks and rocker, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown. It consists, fur,l ther, in the combination of the locking and operating pawls with each other and with the rocker, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. It consists, further, in the construction and combination of the series of operating-pawls, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown and described. It consists, further, in the means employed for limiting the motion of the rocker and operating-pawls, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. It consists, fun ther, in the means employed for releasing the type-disks from engagement with the operating and locking pawls, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

In the annexed drawing, A and A represent a number of annular disks of metal, corresponding in dimensions and shape, and 'arranged upon a hollow metal cylinder, B, between two heads, G, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Within each disk A is provided a series often notches, a, which are cut at equidistant points around the inner periphery and front side of the same, nine of said notches being extended one-half the distance from the iront to the rear side, while the tenth notch, c',

passes entirely through said disk. Journaled within the heads G, and extending through the center ofthe cylinder B, is a shaft, D, which, between said heads, is enlarged radially, so. as to present the form shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and, within one of its enlarged sides, is provided with a series of slots, d, that extend inward to or near the line of the periphery of the shaft proper, and are cut upon a plane having a right angle to the saine. Within each slot d is pivoted a pawl, E, which has the form shown in Fig. 9, and is arranged with its hooked side e outward. From the outer end of the rocker-shaft the second and each succeeding pawl is provided, upon its outer side, at the point of the hook e, with a projection, e', which extends laterally outward to the inner or contiguous portion of the next pawl, while at the heel ot' said hooked portion is provided a second projection, c, that extends in a similar manner to the inner face of the heel of the next outer pawl. A lip, e, upon the outer side of said projection e extends outward into a corresponding notch formed within said outer pawl. To accomodate the projections e and c the rocker-shaft D is provided with a rabbet or groove, d, as shown.

As constructed and combined, it will be seen that while each pawl can be moved outward without a'ecting the position of the pawls in its rear such motion carries with it the next and all outer pawls, while upon being moved inward the reverse is true, as each pawl carries with it those in its rear without affecting those infront of it. At one side ot' the cylinder B is provided'a longitudinal slot, b, that extends entirelyr through its wall and within the interior of said cylinder immediately beneath said slot are cut a series of semi-concentric grooves, b', which correspond in number and radial position to the pawls E and receive each a detent, F, (having the forni shown in Fig. 5,) that is pivoted therein at a point about one-third the length from its rear end, and has its hooked end j' contained within the slot b. The shape of the upper sides of the detents in rear of their hooked ends is such as that when said ends are moved outward to the furthest limit said hooks f shall pass through the slot b and project beyond the periphery ofthe cylinder B about one-sixteenth ot' an inch, while when moved inward until arrested by the striking of the opposite or rear ends against the contiguous sides of their grooves, said hooked ends shall be withdrawn just within the periphery of said cylinder. Then turned in ward to their furthest point the outer points of the pawls E have a distance from the center ot' the shaft D just equal to one-half the diameter ot the cylinder B, one side of which (directly opposite to the slot b) is cut away so as to give space for said pawls, the opening Z1 having just sufficient width to permit the latter to move with their shaft a distance equal to the space between two notches ay within the disks A. ln order that the detents F may be alternately withdrawn and then pressed outward as the rockshaft is oscillated within its bearings a stud, G, is placed within a corresponding opening formed within said rock-shaft directly beneath each detent, and is pressed radially outward against the same by means of a spiral or other spring placed beneath the lower end of said stud. Then the rock-shaft is operated the spring-studs bearing against their detents are moved thereonlon gitudinallyto equaldistances in each direct-ion from their pivotal bearings and alternately raise each end of said detent, the opposite end being correspondingly depressed. The necessary outward pressure upon each pawl E is obtained from the springstuds G, which operate upon the saine by means of a pin, H, that extends from the heel ot' said pawl through an opening in the rockershai't to the corresponding' detent F, where it has a bearing at a point in front or' the pivotal bearing. The length ofthe stud H is such as to just iill the space between the pawl and detent whenever one of the same is drawn inward and the other moved outward to its furthest limit, so that it is impracticable for both ot' said parts to be withdrawn from engagement at the same time, although both may be in engagement at one point ofthe operation of the rock-shaft.

This portion of the device is now complete, and operates as follows: The disks A are arranged upon the cylinder B so as-to bring their full notches in a linewith each other and with the hooked ends c of the pawls E, when the latter are moved to the limit of their backward stroke, as shown in Fig. 5, in which position ot' parts the detents F are all with` drawn from engagement with said disks. If, now, the rock-shaft be moved forward the pawls engaging with the full notches will carry with themallot'thedisks,rotatingthesameone-tenth of a revolution and bringing the next series of notches in a line with the detents, which latter, by the change in the position of the rock-shaft, will be thrown into engagement by their springs, the relative positions ot' parts being shown in Fig. 2.

By the outward throw of the detents the pawls are allowed to move inward until they bear upon the inner periphery of the disks, (as seen in Fig. 3,) as the rock-shaft is moved rearward once more.

Upon reaching the rear end of its stroke the outer pawl, which has a width only equal to the depth of the half-notches, is pressed outward into engagement with the next notch, (half,) and releases its detent from engagement with its disk; but as the other pawls have double the width of said outer one, and the end of each extends outward over onehalt' the thickness ot' the disk next in front, said pawls bear upon the solid portions ot' said disk in rear of the half-notches, and can neither engage with the latter nor release their detents; in consequence of which, when the rock-shaft is again moved forward none of said pawls, except the outer one, are in engagement, while the outer disk is the only one that is not locked in place by the detents. rlhis state ot' aiairs continues until the outer disk has performed an entire revolution and its full notch is brought beneath the pawls, when the rock-shaft is in the position shown in Fig. 5, at which time the second pawl (with the first) moves outward into said full notch and into one of the half-notches in the second disk; the detents of said disk and the outer one are released, and when said rockshaft is again moved forward both disks are rotated one notch.

The operation described continues, the second disk being moved forward one notch each time that the full notch of the outer disk permits the second pawl to move outward into engagement, the third and each succeeding disk being operated in the same manner, so as to move forward one notch at each complete revolution of the disk next in front, the rst disk being moved ten notches to one of the second, one hundred notches to one of the third, one thousand notches to one of the fourth, &c., so that by providing a series of ten figures upon each disk, in positions corresponding to those of the notches, the row in a line with the ciphers, (as at first arranged,) will correctly indicate the number of double oscillations made by the rock-shaft, said iigures being read from the inner disk outward.

The raised iigures around the peripheries of the disks A consist of short type A, which are itted into corresponding recesses a cut in said disks, and are each secured in posit-ion by means of a small dat-headed screw, a', which screws radially into said disk, with its head projecting over and bearing upon the shoulder of said type. This arrangement enables the employment of ordinary type, and also the easy removal of worn type and the insertion of new ones whenever necessary, while, in case the figures were cut upon and formed part of the disks, an injury to one of said gures would necessitate the furnishing of an entire new disk.

In order that the disks may be turned backward whenever a mistake is made in printing, or adjusted to their normal position when one job is completed and a new one is to be com.- menced, the following -described means are employed: The curved end of the rockershaft D is shortened slightly, so that when it reaches the usual limit of its back stroke, and the operating-pawl E has engaged with the contiguous notch a of its disk, said rocker does not strike against the cylinder B so as to arrest its motion, but may pass further rearward, so as to raise said pawl by dragging its hooked end c over the edge 11 of said cylinder'.

To permit the withdrawal ofthe operating pawl E while the detent F is also withdrawn, a notch, j", is cut within the inner edge of the latter in such a position as to receive the end of the stud H at the instant that said operating-pawl strikes the edge b of the cylin'der, the depth of said notch being just equal to the distance to which said stud must be moved in order to permit said pawl to withdraw from engagement with its disk.

As thus arranged, it will be seen that when the rocker-shaft is moved rearward just the required distance the operating pawl will be caused to engage with a notch of its disk,

' as seen in Fig. 5, so as to move the latter forward upon the return movement of said rocker-shaft; but when the latter is moved rearward beyond the point shown said pawl will be withdrawn from engagement with its disk, and as the detent is also withdrawn, as shown in Fig. 6, said disk is left free to be moved in either direction.

In order to conne the rearward motion of the rocker-shaft to the limits necessary to operate the disks, a button or stop, I, is pivoted at one end to or upon one of t-he heads C in such a position as to causeits free end, when turned to the position shown in Fig. 1, to receive the outer end of the operating-1ever K, which latter is secured to or upon one end of said rockershaft, when said lever reaches the limit of its usual rearward stroke, but when turned to the position shown by the dotted lines said stop oiiers no obstruction to the motion of said lever, which is then permitted to pass rearward suciently to release the operating mechanism from the disks, and permit the latter to be adjusted to any desired position.

A stud, L, projecting outward from the head G, receives the outer end of the operating-lever K when the latter has passed rearward to the furthest point required, and also acts as a stop for the end of the button I when the same is turned toward said lever; while, by means of a spring-stud, i, which is placed within a suitable opening in said button, and at its inner end caused to engage with a conical hole, c, provided directly beneath it in the face of said head G, the position to which said button is adjusted is insured.

The application of this improvement to the numbering of banknotes, bonds, &c., the paging of books, or to any purpose requiring the employment of consecutive numbers, will be readily understood, and therefore requires no illustration.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1s- 1. The locking-pawls or detents F, when constructed as shown, and combined with the cylinder B and the disks A, substantially as ,and for the purpose specified.

2. rIhe means employed for throwing the pivoted detents F into or out of engagement with the disks A, consisting ofthe spring-studs G, contained within and oscillated by the rockshaft D, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. The operating-pawls E when constructed as shown, and combined with the rockshaft D and disks A, substantially as and for 'the purpose set forth.

4. The operating-pawls E and detents F, when arranged to operate as seen, and cornbined with each other by means of the pins H, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

5. The operating-pawls E constructed as shown, and combined by lneans of projections e and lips 6', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In combination with the disks A provided each with a full notch, a', and nine halfnotches a, the operating pawls E provided with the projections e', substantially as and for the purpose shown.

7. In combination with the rock-shaft D spring-stud i, and the stop L secured With- :md operating-pawls E, the cylinder B proin and extending outward from the head C, vided with the openings b, substantially as substantially as and for the purpose speciand ior the purpose set forth. ed.

8. The operating-pawls E, the detents F In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I provided with the notohesf, the pins H, and have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of the rocker-shaft D, in combination with each March, 1873.

other and with the edge b of the cylinder CHAS. W. DICKINSON. B or its equivalent, substantiallyas and for the purpose shown and described. Witnesses:

9. In combination with the operating-lever ROBERT L. KAY, K, the pivoted button I provided with the L. H. WEEKS. 

